Shropshire impressed as they enjoyed two excellent wins over Cumbria in their latest double-header in the National Counties Twenty20 competition.
The double triumph – Shropshire have now won four of their six games this season – lifts them up to second in the Group One table and boosts hopes of qualifying for the Super 12s stage ahead of their two final group matches against Northumberland at Wellington on Sunday.
Shropshire, helped by a half century from Joe Johnson, won the opening clash at Cockermouth Cricket Club by 71 runs after dismissing Cumbria for 65 – the lowest total Shropshire have ever bowled out a team in this competition, with the previous lowest T20 score against the county 83 by Herefordshire at Wrekin College in 2019.
Another assured display followed as Shropshire won Sunday’s second game by eight wickets, with Sahal Malvernkar hitting an unbeaten half century, to complete a good day’s work for the county.
Ed Ashlin, Shropshire’s first-team coach, said: “We were pleased and they were two good performances. We had to adapt the way we played because there’s been a lot of rain in the last week or so, particularly up there.
“I would say the wicket was challenging for stroke play, but we adapted really well, particularly in the first game, the way Joe played. He played very maturely. He still struck the ball really well, but made sure that we got to what we thought was a very competitive score.
“Theo Wylie batted nicely with him. We spoke about partnerships being important and that was a good partnership, so that was pleasing.
“We then bowled superbly in that first game and utilised the conditions, both the seamers and the spinners, and it was a really good all round effort.
“We restricted them well again in the second game and bowled with good discipline. We then chased well. We showed good intent in the powerplay. Sahal hit the ball very well and played great again.
“Chasing a low score it’s important to break the back of it with positive intent, and after making a good start we were able to finish the job off.
“Cumbria are a really good outfit. They’re through to the semi-finals of the 50-over competition, so we were pleased to go up there and get two wins on the board.”
Invited to bat in the day’s first match, Shifnal opener Johnson played the lead role as Shropshire posted 136-4.
Exceptional Shropshire bowling display
Johnson was eventually out for 69 in the final over, facing 59 balls and hitting three sixes and three fours.
He put on 57 for the third wicket with Theo Wylie (22) before Seb Scott boosted the total with an unbeaten 19 from 12 balls, including a six off the last ball of the innings. Sam Sharp took 2-29 for the hosts.
Cumbria, in reply, lost a wicket in the first over when Freddie Fallows was trapped lbw by Joe Stanley.
It set the scene for an exceptional Shropshire bowling display as Cumbria, having seen top scorer Ben Walkden head back to the pavilion for 18 when he was bowled by Wylie, slipped from 45-3 to 65 all out from 14.3 overs.
Consistent off-spinner Stanley led the way with 3-12 and he was well backed up by Sam Wisniewski (2-5), Ben Roberts (2-12), Wylie (2-21) and Ollie Smith (1-15).
Game two saw Shropshire quickly take control as Cumbria, having elected to bat, were reduced to 10-2.
The home side continued to lose wickets regularly and, despite contributions from captain Matthew Sempill (25) and Max Winskill (21no), they closed their 20 overs on 101-8
The Shropshire bowlers again kept it tight. Seamer Roberts took 2-17 and was also instrumental in a run out, Stanley and Wylie both claimed 2-18, with Wisniewski taking 1-22.
Stanley ended with combined bowling figures across the two matches of 5-30 from eight overs.
Shropshire then chased well with openers Johnson and Malvernkar putting on 78 before Johnson went for 35 at the start of the 12th over.
Malvernkar, building on his fine, unbeaten 91 against Staffordshire at Wem at the end of last month, saw the job through as Shropshire advanced to 105-2 from 15.4 overs.
Malvernkar struck a six to seal the win after earlier hitting eight fours as he moved to 65 not out from 46 balls.
Pictured: Cockermouth Cricket Club was the venue for Shropshire’s two impressive T20 wins against Cumbria.